Android fragmentation is *nothing* like that, for the most part an application which was written for iPhone OS 1 will still work on iOS4, there have been API changes which have broken things, but these are fairly rare. The scaling is just scaling, it's easy because the retina has quadruple the pixels (i.e double in both directions), so it's a linear scale.
Androids fragmentation comes about from different UI's (+API's), different hardware (+API's), different resolutions and we're not talking things that be can corrected by linear scaling, we're talking completely different resolutions. Look at rovio, they've pretty much said that Angry Birds on Android is a bit steaming pile of s**te because of these problems.
The quote I see for android is "A phone platform for software engineers by software engineers". You can make of that what you what, but as a software engineer it tells me everything I need to know about the experience before I even get near one. By the way, I've fixed your quote too.
Google currently lead the pack in potentially evil companies, so many fingers in so many pies. You only have to look at the data that they "accidentally" collected with the streetview cars, they knew full well what they were collecting and were no doubt going to use that data for location services.
Do I think competition is healthy? Yes. Do I think android has potential? Yes. Do I think android in it's current form has potential? No. Google have unfortunately let the horse bolt before shutting the stable door, they should have had strict guidelines on what is/isn't an android phone. It's also a wet dream for the networks because they've never had it so easy for bundling crap onto their phones.
I fail to see how multiple UI's from multiple vendors helps android in any way shape or form, look at the linux desktop, it's biggest problem and the reason it hasn't caught on is because there are multiple competing desktops. There's always the danger for google that the phone manufacturers could just get together, fork the platform and leave google out of the picture.
Sometimes too much choice just isn't a good thing.
Apple changed the game, smartphones went from slow, bug ridden, ugly crashfests into slick usable devices. Nokia are still steadfastly giving CPR to a donkey that died 3 years ago (they really should just switch to android). Windows Mobile 7 seems to have garnered as much interest and attention from developers as a turnip and RIM are still convinced that they're going to rule the world.
I'll be interested to see now well of a seller the nexus S is, looking forward to having a play (it's certainly not a looker though). Competitions good, keeps people on their toes as long as it's worthy competition.
